Kenya's intervention in Somalia: 1990 - 2020

Abstract

The Somali conflict or Civil War, which began in 1991 after the collapse of the Siad Barre regime, has continued to ravage Somalia and the horn of Africa. In Kenya and Somalia, activities and operations of Al-Shabaab have continued to affect peace, security, and stability. Over the past years, there have been efforts to restore peace and stability in Somalia by defeating the Al-Shabaab, an organization that has been focused on taking control of the government. The government of Kenya has worked unilaterally and under AMISOM to restore peace and stability in Somalia and to protect the national interests of Kenya. Apart from this, it has worked under organizations such as AU, UN, and IGAD. The focus of this study is to analyze Kenya’s intervention in Somalia from 1990 to 2020. The objective of the study is to analyze the impact of the conflict in Somalia on Kenyan national security, Kenyan response, and the challenges posed by multiple interventions along different frameworks. The study utilized secondary data from various sources and supplemented it with primary data from representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, internal security, and defense. Further, the study also considered the opinion of selected members of the public. Data was analyzed using content analysis and presented in a textual format. The findings of the study indicated that Al-Shabaab invasion in Kenya and Somalia had economic, political, and psychological impacts, and especially for Kenya. The findings of the study indicated the government of Kenya implemented unilateral military intervention, diplomatic interventions, domestic policing, and peace support operations. Using KDF, it implemented interventions under AMISOM and IGASOM. The study concluded that while the government of Kenya was successful in its intervention, it faced challenges and criticisms relating to its operations. As a result of this, the study provided recommendations for enhancing the capacity of the government of Kenya in the prolonged conflict in Somalia. This includes contributing more knowledge and resources, working with international actors, and advocating for the upholding of the rule of law.